Is it cold in Morocco in December?

It depends on the region. Days are often mild, around 19 to 20°C on average in Casablanca and Marrakech, but nights are cool: about 7°C on average in Marrakech and 10°C in Tangier according to climate normals. It can snow on the Atlas, and desert nights can approach freezing.

Do you need a heavy coat for a night in the desert in winter?

Not necessarily. A light down jacket, a warm sweater, a beanie and gloves, worn in layers, are often enough. Days are mild and sunny, but nights are very cold: prepare for a desert camp as you would for a night in the mountains, and ask the organiser what bedding is provided.

Does it rain a lot in Tangier in November and December?

Yes, these are the wettest months of the year in northern Morocco. Tangier's climate normals count about 11 to 12 days of rain per month in November and December. Bring a waterproof jacket, a folding umbrella and shoes that grip on wet cobblestones.

Where can I leave my suitcase during an Atlas excursion from Marrakech?

At a BoxSpot point in Marrakech. The point near Bab Aghmat opens daily from 9am to 5pm; the one near the Medersa Ben Youssef opens from 11am to 11pm (10pm on Friday) and is closed on Sunday. It costs 9 MAD per hour per bag, with a 4-hour minimum, and never more than 59 MAD for the day for the first bag.

What to pack for Morocco in winter (Nov-Dec)

Morocco is often pictured as hot all year round. In November and December that holds true at noon on a Marrakech terrace, much less at 10pm in a riad, in the Tangier rain or at dawn in the dunes. The country changes climate within a few hours' drive, and your suitcase has to keep up. Here is what to actually pack, region by region, and how to avoid dragging a big suitcase everywhere.

Short answer

Think “layers”, not “heavy coat”: T-shirts, a warm sweater, a light down jacket and a waterproof jacket cover almost the whole country. Add closed shoes with good grip (wet cobblestones are slippery), plus a beanie and gloves if you head into the Atlas or sleep in the desert. For excursions, leave the big suitcase at a BoxSpot point: 9 MAD per hour per bag, 4-hour minimum (36 MAD), never more than 59 MAD for the day.

One country, five climates: what to expect

The figures below are climate averages (normals) measured at airports: 1991-2020 for Marrakech and Casablanca, 1961-1990 for Tangier. No year matches the average exactly, so check the forecast a few days before you pack.

The north (Tangier, Tetouan, Chefchaouen): November and December are the wettest months of the year. In Tangier, the normals give about 17°C by day and 10°C at night in December (20°C and 12°C in November), with rain on roughly one day in three. The wind from the Strait makes it feel cooler. A rainy day in Tangier? Here is what to do indoors, without your suitcase.
The Atlantic coast (Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir): the mildest part of the country. In Casablanca, December normals are around 19°C by day and 10 to 11°C at night. The southern coast, towards Agadir, is generally warmer. Essaouira is known for its wind, which noticeably cools the air.
Marrakech and the interior: plenty of sun and pleasant days, about 23°C in November and 20°C in December according to the normals at Marrakech-Menara airport. But the air is dry and nights are cool, around 7°C on average in December, and the temperature has dropped below zero before. Fes and Meknes are cooler and often damper.
The High Atlas (Imlil, Oukaimeden, Tichka pass): snow is possible at altitude from early winter. The Tizi n'Tichka pass, on the road to Ouarzazate, regularly closes for a few hours or a few days after heavy snowfall: it happened several times in January 2026. Check the road conditions before you set off.
The desert (Merzouga, Zagora): mild, sunny days but very cold nights that can approach freezing. Plan a December desert camp the way you would a night in the mountains.

The packing list that works everywhere

The classic mistake is packing a full outfit for each climate. A light base that you layer depending on the place and the time of day works better.

Clothes

3 or 4 breathable T-shirts or tops, including one with long sleeves.
A warm sweater or a fleece.
A light, packable down jacket: essential for evenings in Marrakech, the Atlas and the desert.
A waterproof jacket or hooded windbreaker, especially if you travel through the north. A small folding umbrella also helps in Tangier.
Two pairs of trousers, one of them quick-drying.
A beanie, thin gloves and a scarf if the Atlas or a night in the desert is on the programme.
Warm pyjamas or thick socks: riads, with their open courtyards, are not always well heated.

Shoes and accessories

A pair of closed shoes with grippy soles: medina cobblestones and paving get slippery in the rain.
Sunglasses and sunscreen: the winter sun stays strong, especially at altitude and near snow.
An adapter if needed: Morocco uses type C and E sockets, at 220 V.
A small daypack for water, your down jacket and your camera.

Cabin bag or checked suitcase?

In winter, most of the volume comes from warm layers. Two simple tricks: wear your bulkiest items (down jacket, sweater, walking shoes) on the plane, and choose clothes that compress. For a one-week stay in one or two cities, a cabin bag and a backpack are often enough.

If your trip combines city, Atlas and desert, a checked suitcase becomes tempting. It has one drawback: it follows you everywhere, including where it is useless. Baggage allowances vary by airline and fare, especially with low-cost carriers: check the permitted size and weight on your booking before you leave rather than relying on a general rule.

Why travelling light changes everything in the medinas

In most medinas, the taxi stops at a gate and the last few hundred metres are on foot: narrow alleys, cobblestones, steps in Tangier or Chefchaouen, slopes in Fes. In the rain, a wheeled suitcase on wet cobblestones quickly becomes an ordeal. We covered each city in our article can you cross a Moroccan medina with a suitcase?

The golden rule is the same in winter: never sightsee with your luggage. On arrival day, departure day and excursion days, your suitcase should be left somewhere.

Atlas or desert trip: leave the big suitcase in town

Winter excursions are often done by minibus, with little space, dirt tracks and sometimes a night at a desert camp. Take a backpack with your warm layers and leave the rest in town. In Marrakech, two BoxSpot points have different opening hours, which matters for your return:

Near Bab Aghmat (southeast of the medina): open daily from 9am to 5pm. Handy for a day in the Atlas, as long as you are back before 5pm.
Near the Medersa Ben Youssef (north of the medina): open 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday and Saturday, until 10pm on Friday, closed on Sunday. Better suited to an evening return from an excursion.

See both points and where they are on the Marrakech luggage storage page. BoxSpot also has points in Tangier, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, Mohammedia and Bouskoura: the map of all points shows you the one on your route.

Example: a day in Imlil from Marrakech

You drop your suitcase near Bab Aghmat at 9am, head to the Imlil valley and pick it up at 4:30pm. Seven and a half hours at 9 MAD per hour would come to more than 59 MAD, but an hourly booking never exceeds 59 MAD for the first bag for the day: you pay 59 MAD. With a second suitcase, add 49 MAD: 108 MAD in total. Leave some margin, as the mountain road can be slowed by the weather.

Example: a three-day desert tour

For one bag kept for three days, count 59 + 39 + 39 = 137 MAD. Make sure your drop-off and return times fall within the opening hours of the point you choose: tours often leave early in the morning and come back in the evening. The exact price for your dates is shown before payment, online, in dirhams, by card.

On site, the partner scans the QR code of your booking and photographs your bags, with the time of drop-off. They are only returned to you against that same QR code.

Go on your excursion with just a backpack

Leave your big winter suitcase at a BoxSpot point in Marrakech, Tangier, Fes, Rabat or Casablanca, and collect it on your return with your QR code. From 9 MAD per hour per bag.

Find a BoxSpot point

Short answer

One country, five climates: what to expect

The north (Tangier, Tetouan, Chefchaouen): November and December are the wettest months of the year. In Tangier, the normals give about 17°C by day and 10°C at night in December (20°C and 12°C in November), with rain on roughly one day in three. The wind from the Strait makes it feel cooler. A rainy day in Tangier? Here is what to do indoors, without your suitcase.
The Atlantic coast (Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir): the mildest part of the country. In Casablanca, December normals are around 19°C by day and 10 to 11°C at night. The southern coast, towards Agadir, is generally warmer. Essaouira is known for its wind, which noticeably cools the air.
Marrakech and the interior: plenty of sun and pleasant days, about 23°C in November and 20°C in December according to the normals at Marrakech-Menara airport. But the air is dry and nights are cool, around 7°C on average in December, and the temperature has dropped below zero before. Fes and Meknes are cooler and often damper.
The High Atlas (Imlil, Oukaimeden, Tichka pass): snow is possible at altitude from early winter. The Tizi n'Tichka pass, on the road to Ouarzazate, regularly closes for a few hours or a few days after heavy snowfall: it happened several times in January 2026. Check the road conditions before you set off.
The desert (Merzouga, Zagora): mild, sunny days but very cold nights that can approach freezing. Plan a December desert camp the way you would a night in the mountains.